Vehicle seating with shared armrests

ABSTRACT

An armrest assembly for a passenger seat is arranged so as to allow sharing of a common armrest by side-by-side seated passengers. The armrest assembly may include a laterally-moveable upper panel, a deployable auxiliary armrest, and/or a raised extension armrest.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/529,686 filed Dec. 15, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/589,297, filed Jul. 20, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to vehicle seating and more particularly to a tourist/coach class aircraft seating arrangement. Aircraft seating is typically divided into various classes, for example first class, business class, and coach or tourist class. For each class of seating, an individual passenger is allotted a preselected amount of space (both area and volume). First-class seats provide the most individual space, and also may include features to improve comfort, such as fully reclining sleeper functions. In contrast, the tourist/coach class is provided with a relatively small amount of space, in order to provide the most efficient transportation and lowest cost. However, this space limitation can produce passenger discomfort or possibly even physical ailments, and also makes it difficult for a passenger to find a comfortable position in which to sleep on long flights.

Because the space for coach-class seating is limited, it is especially important that a passenger's personal space be protected from intrusion from other passengers. However, prior art coach class seats are typically arranged such that passengers seated side-by side must share an a single armrest. Although there is theoretically adequate space for each passenger's arm to be comfortably supported, the prior art armrest arrangement tends to lead to conflicts between passengers as each tries to assert control of the single armrest.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle passenger seat which allows passengers seated side-by-side to effectively share an armrest space

It is another object the invention to provide a passenger seat which allows passengers to place their arms in an overlapping position

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing an armrest assembly for a passenger seat including a horizontally-extending armrest; and a top cap disposed on an upper surface of the armrest, including: a lower panel adapted to support a seated passenger's arm; and an upper panel adapted to support a seated passenger's arm, wherein the upper panel is moveable between a stowed position aligned with the lower panel, and a deployed position wherein the upper panel is laterally displaced from the lower panel so as to increase the effective width of the armrest.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the upper panel at least partially overlaps the lower panel in the deployed position.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the upper panel and the lower panel have substantially the same width and length.

According to another embodiment of the invention, an armrest assembly for a passenger seat includes a horizontally-extending armrest; and at least one auxiliary armrest having a length less than a length of the armrest. The auxiliary armrest is disposed on a left or right side of a forward end of the armrest. The auxiliary armrest is moveable between a lowered position; and a raised position in which the auxiliary armrest provides support for a portion of a passenger's arm.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the armrest assembly further includes means for selectively retaining the auxiliary armrest in the lowered or raised position.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the armrest assembly further includes: at least one extension armrest including: a support member having a length less than a length of the armrest; and an upwardly-extending stem which positions the support member in a raised position above a rear end of the armrest.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the extension armrest is moveable between the raised position and a lowered position in which the support member rests against an upper surface of the armrest.

According to another embodiment of the invention, and armrest assembly for a passenger seat includes a horizontally-extending armrest; and at least one extension armrest including a support member having a length less than a length of the armrest; and an upwardly-extending stem which positions the support member in a raised position above a rear end of the armrest .

According to another embodiment of the invention, the extension armrest is moveable between the raised position, and a lowered position in which the support member rests against an upper surface of the armrest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a passenger seat set including a translating armrest assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the passenger seat set of FIG. 1, showing a armrest thereof in a deployed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of passenger seat unit incorporating a folding armrest; and

FIG. 4A is a top view of a passenger's arm placed on the armrest of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4B is another top view of a passenger's arm placed on the armrest of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4C is another top view of a passenger's arm placed on the armrest of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of passenger seat unit incorporating a dual-level armrest unit; and

FIG. 6 is another perspective of the passenger seat unit of FIG. 5;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a passenger seat set 10 including a translating armrest. The seat set 10 includes two seats 12 and 14 which are collectively provided with three arm rests 16, 18, and 20, each shown in the lowered passenger use position. The seats include seat backs 22 and 22′ and seat bottoms 24 and 24′. The seats 12 and 14 are supported by a frame 26. The frame 26 is mounted on legs 28 and 30 that are in turn mounted to the deck of the aircraft by track fittings of a known type.

In the illustrated example, the armrests 16, 18, and 20 each include translating top caps 32, 32′ and 32″. As they are identical in construction, only the top cap 32 will be described in detail. The top cap 32 has a stationary, generally planar lower panel 34 and a moveable upper panel 36. The perimeter of the upper panel 36 is substantially the same size and shape as the bottom panel 34. Either or both of the lower and upper panels 34 and 36 may be padded or upholstered. The upper panel 36 is mounted to the armrest 18 (for example using rails or other known structures) so that it may be moved sideways from its stowed position, shown in FIG. 1, to an extended position, shown in FIG. 2. In the extended position, the upper panel 36 greatly increases the total usable width of the shared armrest 18. This reduces competition between adjacent passengers for the available armrest space and promotes harmony between the passengers. At the same time, the overall width of the basic armrest structure positioned underneath the top cap 32 is not increased, and therefore the thigh space allotted to each passenger is not reduced. The moveable upper panel 36 may move either left or right from the stowed position, and if desired an electric actuator or other means may be provided for moving the upper panel 36 under power.

FIGS. 3 and 4A-4C illustrate a passenger seat set 110 including folding auxiliary armrests. The seat set 1 10 includes two seats 112 and 114 which are collectively provided with three arm rests 116, 118, and 120, each shown in the lowered passenger use position. The seats include seat backs 122 and 122′ and seat bottoms 124 and 124′. The seats 112 and 114 are supported by a frame 126. The frame 126 is mounted on legs 128 and 130 that are in turn mounted to the deck of the aircraft by track fittings of a known type.

One or more of the armrests 116, 118, and 120, in particular the center armrest 18, are provided with auxiliary armrests 132 a-132 d. The auxiliary armrests 132 a-132 d are folded down against the sidewalls of the armrests 116, 118, and 120, out of the passenger's way, when not in use. Auxiliary armrest 32 d is shown in this position in FIG. 3. When needed, the auxiliary armrests 132 a-132 d can be folded upward into a raised position to provide extra support for the passenger's arm. Auxiliary armrests 132 a, 132 b, and 132 c are shown in this position in FIG. 3. A suitable mechanism, such as a friction lock, is provided to hold the auxiliary armrest 132 a in the raised position.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate the use of the auxiliary armrest 132 a, which is representative of the auxiliary armrests 132 b-132 d, in more detail. As shown in FIG. 4A, it is possible for a passenger to use only a portion of a conventional armrest 16, for example when attempting to share that armrest 16 with another passenger, by placing his or her forearm “F” in an angled position. However, the passenger's hand “H” will be unsupported in this situation. The auxiliary armrest 132 a, shown folded in FIG. 4B and raised in FIG. 4C, provides support for the passenger's hand H. Furthermore, because the auxiliary armrest 132 a is relatively short in the longitudinal direction, and mounted at the front end of the armrest 16, is naturally encourages the passenger to place his or her forearm “F” in an angled position which frees up space on the remainder of the armrest 16 for an adjacent passenger's elbow and forearm.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a passenger seat set 210 including folding two-tiered armrests. The seat set 210 includes two seats 212 and 214 which are collectively provided with three arm rests 216, 218, and 220, each shown in the lowered passenger use position. The seats include seat backs 222 and 222′ and seat bottoms 224 and 224′. The seats 212 and 214 are supported by a frame 226. The frame 226 is mounted on legs 228 and 230 that are in turn mounted to the deck of the aircraft by track fittings of a known type.

One or more of the armrests 216, 218, or 220, in particular the center armrest 218, are provided with extension armrests 232, 231′, and 232″. The extension armrests 232, 232′, and 232″ are identical in construction, accordingly only the extension armrest 232 will be described in detail. The extension armrest 232 is attached to the upper surface of the center armrest 218 near its rear end. The extension armrest 232 comprises a relatively flat support surface 234, which may be padded or upholstered as desired, and an upright stem 236. The stem 236 may be extended or retracted as needed to move the support surface 234 from a lowered position, shown in FIG. 5, to a raised position, shown in FIG. 6. Means are provided for retaining the stem 236 in the raised or lowered positions as desired, or the stem 236 may be fixed. In the raised position, the extension armrest 232 provides a space for the elbow of a passenger. An adjacent passenger can then place his or her elbow on the upper surface of the center armrest 218, underneath the arm of the first passenger. This allows side-by-side passengers to share the same lateral space provided while each passenger's arm is comfortably supported without conflict. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the extension armrests 232, 232′ and 232″ may be used in conjunction with auxiliary armrests 238 a-238 d similar in construction to the auxiliary armrests 132 a-132 d described above.

The foregoing has described a seating arrangement having a plurality of armrests which may be shared between passengers. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims. 

1. An armrest assembly for a passenger seat comprising: a horizontally-extending armrest; and a top cap disposed on an upper surface of said armrest, comprising: a lower panel adapted to support a seated passenger's arm; and an upper panel adapted to support a seated passenger's arm, wherein said upper panel is moveable between a stowed position aligned with said lower panel, and a deployed position wherein said upper panel is laterally displaced from said lower panel so as to increase the effective width of said armrest.
 2. The armrest assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper panel at least partially overlaps said lower panel in said deployed position.
 3. The armrest assembly of claim 1 wherein said upper panel and said lower panel have substantially the same width and length.
 4. An armrest assembly for a passenger seat comprising: a horizontally-extending armrest; and at least one auxiliary armrest having a length less than a length of said armrest, said auxiliary armrest being disposed on a left or right side of a forward end of said armrest, wherein said auxiliary armrest is moveable between: a lowered position; and a raised position in which said auxiliary armrest provides support for a portion of a passenger's arm.
 5. The armrest assembly of claim 4 further comprising means for selectively retaining said auxiliary armrest in said lowered or raised position.
 6. The armrest assembly of claim 4 further comprising: at least one extension armrest comprising: a support member having a length less than a length of said armrest; and an upwardly-extending stem which positions said support member in a raised position above a rear end of said armrest.
 7. The armrest assembly of claim 6 wherein said extension armrest is moveable between said raised position and a lowered position in which said support member rests against an upper surface of said armrest.
 8. An armrest assembly for a passenger seat comprising: a horizontally-extending armrest; and at least one extension armrest comprising: a support member having a length less than a length of said armrest,; and an upwardly-extending stem which positions said support member in a raised position above a rear end of said armrest.
 9. The armrest assembly of claim 8 wherein said extension armrest is moveable between said raised position, and a lowered position in which said support member rests against an upper surface of said armrest. 